My two cross-stitch stitch-a-longs are progressing nicely. I finished the next section of the Zen one just in time before the next instructions for the Zoe box come out today…

It’s getting to the exciting bit now with the Zoe box as shortly we will get the first half of the construction instructions! We have now completed all the pieces. It’s going to be gorgeous!

This time we stitched what I think will be the inside base of the box, as least I hope that’s how it will work out as I’ve done some extra stitching on what I think will be the very bottom! The inner base has four leaves and some buds in the different seasonal colours. It’s interesting to see how Faby develops the design as these four leaves form the basis of the inner lid, the inner bottom and an extra little square which I’m not sure what it’s going to make. The four leaves are on their own, with buds and with sequins too.

I wanted to add my initials and the date somewhere so I decided to stitch them on the base using one of the variegated threads. I used the back-stitching of part of the leaf border to frame it. It’s not perfect as somehow I’m one square out on one side, but no one will notice – and it’s on the bottom anyway (I hope!!)

The two little squares could be a scissor fob, or a mini biscornu tassel…all will be revealed soon!

The Zen sampler is moving on square by square, this is the 10th square out of 16. I think the last line is going to say ‘Be humble’. It looks like the bottom is going to be a mirror image of the top, which means I’ll have to order some more brown thread!

Hopefully I’ll be doing a happy dance with my Zoe box by Christmas 🙂